Horse racing is the second most attended sport in the United Kingdom, with the action on track only ranked by football. Every year the sport has huge attention on it, with major dates in the diary being set throughout the calendar year.
That promises to be no different throughout 2025, with major events taking place on the flat and over jumps. The latter has a cult following in the UK, with the biggest racing attendances coming during the National Hunt season.
But, what are some of the must-watch horse racing events in the world of horse racing in the UK this year?
Champion Hurdle
The four-day Cheltenham Festival is the biggest racing event on the schedule, and all eyes will be on the home of jumps racing on March 11, as day one gets underway.
The feature on the opening day of the meet will be a fascinating G1 Champion Hurdle, which could present a brilliant British vs. Irish showdown. Nicky Henderson-trained Constitution Hill will be looking for a second Champion Hurdle title after missing the 2024 Festival due to ongoing fitness issues. However, he remains the highest-rated hurdler in training, and was excellent when beating State Man by nine lengths in the race in 2023.
His long-awaited return after 366 days off the track saw him beat Irish raider Lossiemouth by two lengths, but the mare is arguably better at Cheltenham and could put down a stronger challenge at the Festival.
State Man was the winner of the race 12 months ago, but he has been put in his place on two occasions this season by Gordon Elliott-trained Brighterdaysahead. The latest of those coming by a staggering 30-length margin in the G1 Neville Hotels Hurdle at the end of December.
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Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Blue Riband event on the National Hunt schedule rounds off the action at the Cheltenham Festival, and the prestigious Grade One has been won by a who’s who of the greats, including Denman, Mill House, Kauto Star, and Best Mate.
History beckons for Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs this year, as the French-bred nine-year-old could become the first three-time winner of the race since Best Mate.
Galopin Des Champs is widely considered to be the best staying chaser in the division, and he has already furthered his claims of more Gold Cup glory this season after hammering young pretender Fact To File by an extended seven-length margin in the G1 Savills Chase.
Banbridge could be an interesting rival after winning the G1 King George, while Gerri Colombe has already been one that has promised to compete for the Elliott yard in the featured race of the week. French raider Il Est Francais could be a pace angle this year if taking up his entry in the Gold Cup over a run in the Ryanair Chase or Champion Chase.
Grand National
While the Cheltenham Festival is the most significant meeting of the racing season, it could be argued that the Grand National is the biggest betting day of the year. The world-famous race was first staged in 1839, and it has created some of the lasting memories of the sport throughout history.
I Am Maximus was a dominant winner of the race in 2024, beating Delta Work by seven lengths on his first attempt over the National fences. The nine-year-old has flirted with Grade Ones this season, but was pulled up in the G1 Savills Chase in December. All roads lead back to Aintree for the Mullins runner.
Intense Raffles is also running like a horse eyeing his handicap mark over fences for a National bid this year. The Thomas Gibney runner has the stamina for the race at Aintree, winning the Irish National in April 2024. British hopes could be hung on Iroko, who has won once from five attempts over fences for the Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero yard.
Epsom Derby
Once the dust has settled on the jumps season, the attention quickly turns back to matters on the flat. The second leg of the Triple Crown is perhaps the most famous in Europe, with the Derby at Epsom being staged in early June.
The race dates back to 1780, and will see a field of horses aged three compete over a mile and four furlongs. Aidan O’Brien will be chasing an eleventh win in the race, and he holds the ante-post favourite in the form of The Lion In Winter. The contender was excellent on both of his starts as a two-year-old, including when wining the G3 Acomb Stakes at the end of August.
However, Godolphin could hold a leading chance this year, as everything suggests that Charlie Appleby-trained Ruling Court will be a major player over the Classic distance.
Hotazhell could be an interesting outsider worth following for trainer Jessie Harrington. The colt won twice over a mile at the end of last season, including on testing ground when getting the better of Delacroix in the G1 Futurity Trophy Stakes.
